Chapter Thirty-Nine
Parker
“T hat went well,” Audrey says as she climbs into my truck.
We had a great meal, and her family made Mom and the girls feel right at home. After we consumed more food than we should have, we spent the rest of the afternoon in the living room. The women played games while the men gathered around the television. Now, we are headed to Wade and Eden’s house for a second celebration. Friendsgiving has sort of become a tradition of its own. We usually celebrate it the weekend before the holiday, but since Audrey and I were working behind the bar at Whiskey Joe’s this year, they moved it to tonight.
“You thought it wouldn’t?” I ask as I take her left hand and entwine my fingers with hers.
“I was a bit concerned. I asked Mom to speak to Dad, but I wasn’t sure if he would be okay with us together or not,” she admits.
“He and I resolved our issues a couple of weeks ago,” I say.
She raises an eyebrow. “Really?”
I nod. “Yes, Sebby and I were talking the day after I ran into your dad at the diner. I was complaining that Rand hated me, and Sebby helped me see things from his perspective. He told me I owed Rand an explanation and an apology. I knew he was right, and I had to do it; I was just putting it off. Then, when I saw you and Jake together at the bar, I realized I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to tell you how I felt, but I first had to talk to your father. So, I skipped poker night and went to see him.”
“Huh,” she grunts, and I raise an eyebrow. “I assumed you were with that Chelcie girl from the house next door or another woman that night,” she says.
I laugh and then raise our hands to kiss her wrist. “No, ma’am, I haven’t laid a finger on another woman.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, all playfulness stripped from her voice. “For going to talk to him, I mean.”
We park across the street from Wade and Eden’s house, and I grab the two pies that Mamie had sent home with us from the backseat. From the curb, we hear a commotion, so I take her hand and lead her up the stairs to the deck.
Amiya greets us at the door and quickly ushers us inside. “What’s going on?” I ask as Wade comes running down the stairs from the second floor carrying a suitcase. He drops it at his feet and looks at me. “If you’re blocking the garage, you need to move now,” he says before turning and sprinting back up the stairs.
“Eden’s water broke,” Amiya says. “And Wade is freaking out.”
Eden waddles out of the bathroom next to the living room, holding her stomach and taking deep breaths. Avie follows closely behind her. “Hi, guys. Sorry about ruining dinner,” she says, panting.
“Are you kidding? This gives us one more thing to be grateful for,” Avie says as she ushers her to a barstool. She bends down and helps her put on her slippers.
I look out to the deck where Sebastian, Lennon, and Anson are seated with beers in hand, watching Leia dance around. “What are they doing?” I ask. Amiya’s eyes follow mine.
“They’re staying out of Wade’s way,” she replies.
“He’s a bit frantic,” Eden says.
I turn back to her and smile. “Well, it has been a while since he’s done this.”
Wade comes stumbling back down. “Did you move your truck?” he asks me.
“It’s all clear,” I reply.
“Good. I have our bags, the baby’s things, and the car seat is loaded. Can someone please call Dillon and let him know we’re on our way? We’ll see you all at the hospital,” he says quickly as he picks up the bags, throws the straps over his shoulder, and walks out the door. We all look at each other in amusement as the door closes behind him.
“One, two, three…” Amiya starts counting.
Suddenly, the door swings open, and he rushes back inside.
“Forget something?” Avie asks with a laugh.
He quickly moves over to Eden and gently helps her to her feet. I remove the straps from his shoulders. “I’ll take care of these. You just make sure she gets down safely,” I say as I take the load from him.
He carefully guides her down the stairs to the garage and lifts her into the passenger seat of his truck while the rest of us follow closely behind. Once she’s secured in the seat, he turns to us, and I hand him their bags.
“Go on. Have that baby girl! We’re right behind you. We’re just going to put all the food away for later and lock up,” Lennon says.
“Thanks, guys,” Wade says as we all step aside to let him pull out and watch them drive down the road.
Afterward, we head back to quickly clean up before loading into Sebastian’s Bronco and my truck. I glance over at Audrey, who is nervously chewing on her lip while Anson climbs into the back seat. “Hey, baby,” I say, reaching out to cradle her face with my hand. Her eyes meet mine. “We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
She brings her watery eyes to meet mine and takes a deep breath. “I want to,” she whispers.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
She nods. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
I take her hand into mine and bring her wrist to my lips. I plant a kiss over her pulse and whisper, “I love you,” against her skin.
I drive us to the mainland, and we spend Friendsgiving in a tiny waiting room with the people that we love like family, awaiting our newest member, knowing that it’s only going to keep growing from here.